Carpet sweepers



May 12, 1959 R. E. I IDDLL ETAL 'I 2,885,700

CARPET SWEEPERS Filed July 25. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E' .2 y. i

$15.554 ,Y @iw/iff@ @f7/)2067.1

May 12, 1959 R. E. LIDDELL ET AL 2,885,700

CARPET SWEEPERS 2 Sheets-Shee*tl 2 Filed July 25, 1956 B @www .United States atent M CARPET SWEEPERS Robert E. Liddell and Norbert T. Kuypers, Detroit, and Robert A. Yonkers, Grandvlle, Mich., assignors to Bissell Carpet Sweeper Company, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application July 25, 1956, Serial No. 600,104

Claims. (Cl. 15-45) This invention relates to carpet sweepers provided with relatively lixed dust pans and a casing top structure including sections constituting discharge doors for the dust pans.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a carpet sweeper casing of relatively few parts, which parts may be economically produced and assembled and result in a structure which is strong and `rigid and at the same time attractive in appearance.

Second, to provide a structure having these advantages and provided with two relative iixed dust pans and with two swingably mounted casing top members constituting closures for the dust pans.

Third, to provide a carpet sweeper characterized by the foregoing stated features in which the top casing members constituting the dust pans closures may be readily operated by the foot of the operator if so desired.

Fourth, to provide a carpet sweeper including a pro jecting continuous border frame constituting a supporting seat for the walls of swingable top casing members and provided with a continuous bumper beyond the side and end walls of the casing.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of a carpet sweeper embodying our invention with portions broken away and in section to disclose certain structural details, the handle also being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged transverse section on a" 'line corresponding to line 2 2 of Fig. 1, the open position of one of the top members being indicated by dotted lines.

.,Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view partially in vertical section on a line corresponding to line 3 3 of Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the handle being shown in upright posil tion and partially broken away.

j Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing details of the side top casing members and their supporting arms.

Fig. 6 is an inverted view of the bottom casing member.

The embodiment of our invention illustrated comprises a bottom member designated generally by the numeral 1 and including bottom sections 2 2 spaced to provide a ybrush opening extending transversely of the sweeper."

These sections constitute dust pan bottoms and have upturned flanges 3 along their inner edges.

The rirnlike border frame comprising unitary side lmembers 4 and end members 5 are integral with the botftom sections2. These parts are desirably formed as a 'j sheet metal stamping. The side and end members of the border frame have continuous flange-like edge portions 6 and 7 respectively adapted to receive the bumper as will be'llater referred to.

" The end Walls 8 have inturned flanges 9 at their lower 2,885,700 Patented May 12, 1959 ICC edges which are seated upon and lixedly secured to the bottom sections 2 at the ends thereof, see Fig. 2. These end walls bridge the opening between the bottom sections and are provided with downwardly opening recesses 10 adapted to receive the body portion 11 of the brush.

The top of the casing comprises the central top casing member 12 which is iixedly mounted upon the end walls 8 with its ends projecting beyond the end walls and terminating in depending end portions 13 spaced from the end walls.

In the embodiment illustrated the central top member has an upwardly curved intermediate portion and horizontal flangelike longitudinal edge portions 14. The upper edges of end walls 8 are conformed to correspond to the cross sectional shape of this central top member.

In the embodiment illustrated the top member 12 is made up of three sections but when connected they are essentially one integral part. The details of securing the parts together are not illustrated but it will be understood that the parts may be spot welded.

The side casing top members 15 are also desirably formed as sheet metal stampings and are provided with end extensions or inwardly projecting end portions 16 disposed at the ends of the depending end portions of the central top casing member. These casing members 15 have downwardly projecting side walls 17 and end walls 18 formed integrally therewith. The walls seat on the border frame when the members 15 are in closed position, the end walls desirably seating on the bumper 71.

The side walls of these side top sections are inwardly offset and inwardly inclined providing hand holds or foot holds 20, see Fig. 2. The side members are provided with pivot arms 21 of general U-shape secured at 22 to the downwardly projecting anges 23 on the inner edges of the end portions 16 of the top member 15 with the inner arms 24 projecting into overlapping relation to each other to receive the journals 25 of the handle bail 26. These journals 25 are pivotally supported in bearings 27 provided therefor in the end Walls 8.

The journals 25 are iixedly secured to the arms of the handle bail and are provided with downwardly projecting armlike detents 28 which coact with the springable keepers 29 mounted on the inner sides of the end walls. These keepers act to releasably hold the handle in upright position as is illustrated in Fig. 3.

The side top members are spring biased to hold them in both open and closed position by the U-shaped springs 30 one end of which is engaged with the end walls at 31 and the other with the pivot arms 24 at 32. The open position of one of the side members is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4 and it will be noted that the attaching point 32 swings across the plane extending through the journals 25 on which the top side members are pivoted and the pivot 31. This pivotal mounting of the sections 15 is concealed. The end members of the central section are provided with stops 33 which coact with the pivot arm 21 to limit the opening movement of the side members.

The brush 11 projects through the recesses in the end walls and is provided with pulleys 34 at the outer sides of the end walls. The ends of the brush body are provided with bearings 35 which are engaged by the journals 36 carried by the springable brackets 37 mounted on the end members of the border frame. The brush is driven by pairs of iioor wheels 38 provided with shafts 40 disposed through openings 41 provided therefor in the end walls, the shafts being yieldably supported and urged against the brush pulleys by the U-shaped springs 42 mounted on the end walls at 43 and having hooked engagement at 44 with the shaft.

Combs 45 are provided to coact with the brush and discharge into the dust pans. As stated, the border frame is provided with a continuous ilangelike rim 6 over which the bumper is engaged,A the bumper being resilient and continuous is effectively retained by its own resilience and projects both at the sidjes and ends of the sweeper.

The parts of our invention may be very economically produced and.v assembled and when assembled results in a relatively light but rigid structure. I

The insetting and inwardly inclination of the side wall of the side top casing members 15 provides an effective hand or foot hold, that is, the casing may be opened for the discharge of the dust pans either by engagement of the swingable top members with tlie foot or the hand. A substantial recess is provided for foot operation as is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This arrangement of parts 'also provides a distinctive and attractive appearance.

We have illustrated and described our invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. We have not attempted to illustrate various modifications and adaptations which we contemplate as it is believed lthat this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody oradapt our invention as may be desired.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l

l. A carpet sweeper comprising a bottom member including bottom sections spaced to provide a briish, opening extending transversely of the sweeper, said sections constituting dust pan bottoms, a rimlike border frame cornprising side and end members integral with the said bottom sections, the end members of said border frame being spaced from the ends of said bottom sections, end walls mounted on said bottom sections in bridging relation to the space between them, a handle provided with journals mounted on said end walls to project inwardly therefrom, a central top member extending between and ixedly mounted on said end walls, and side top members constituting dust pan discharge doors pivotally mounted on said handle journals and provided with downwardly projecting side and end walls seating on said rimlike border frame with portions of said border frame projecting outwardly therefrom, the side walls being inwardly offset facilitating engagement of said side top members for opening.

2. A carpet sweeper comprising a bottom member including bottom sections spaced to provide a brush opening extending transversely of the sweeper, said sections constituting dust pan bottoms, a rimlike border trarne comprising side and end members integral with the said bottom sections, the end members of said border frame being spaced from the ends of said bottom sections, end walls mounted on said bottom sections in bridging relation to the space between them and having downwardly facing recesses, a handle provided with journals mounted on said end walls, a central top member extending between and nxedly mounted on said end walls, and side top members constituting dust pan discharge doors and having inwardly projecting end portions disposed at the ends of the said central top member pivotally mounted on the handle journals and providedy with downwardly projecting side and end walls seating on said border frame.

3. A carpet sweeper comprising a bottom member including bottom sections spaced to provide an elongated brush opening extending transversely of the sweeper, said sections constituting dust pan bottoms, aA border frame comprising side and end members integral with the said bottom sections, the end members of said border frame being spaced from the ends of said bottom sections, end walls mounted on said bottom sections, a central top member, and side top members constituting dust pan discharge doors and having inwardly projecting end portions disposed at the ends of the said central top member and pivotally mounted on said end walls and provided with side and end walls seating on said border frame in inwardly spaced relation to the edges thereof, springs acting to bias said side top members to closed position, a brush jotrnaled on said border frame end members and pro- 4 vided with rollers disposed at the outer sides of said end -walls, and door wheels disposed between said end and said border frame endinembers in opposed coacting relation to said rollers and said brush.

4. A carpet sweeper casing comprising a bottom member including bottom sections having upturned inner edges spaced to provide a brush opening extending transversely of the sweeper, said sections constituting dust pan bottoms, a border frame comprising side and end members iixedly integral' with the said bottom sections, the side members of the said border frame having a downwardly odset outer edges, the end members of said border frame being spaced from the ends of said bottom sections, end walls mounted on said bottom member sections in bridging relation to the space between them, a central top member xedly mounted on said end walls, and side top members constituting dust pan discharge doors and having inwardly projecting end portions disposed at the ends of central top member and pivotally mounted on said end walls and providedl with downwardly projecting side; and end walls seating on said border frame with portions of said border frame projecting outwardly therefrom,- and a bumper engaged over the outer edge of said border frame.

5. A carpet sweeper casing comprising a bottom mem ber including bottom sections spaced to provide a` brush opening extending transversely of the sweeper, said sections constituting dust pan bottoms, a rimlike border frame comprising side and end members tixedly integral with the said bottom sections, the end members of said border frame being spaced from the ends or said bottoml sections, end walls mounted on said bottom member sections in bridging relation to the space between them, a central top member xedly mounted on said end Walls, and side top members constituting dust pan discharge doors and having inwardly projecting end portions disposed at the ends of central top member and pivotally mounted on said end walls and provided with downwardly projecting side and end walls seating on said border frame with portions of said border frame projecting outwardly therefrom, and springs acting to bias said side top members to closed position.

6. A carpet sweeper casing comprising a bottom meinber including bottom sections spaced to provide a brush opening extending transversely of the sweeper, said sections constituting dust pan bottoms, a rimlike border frame comprising side and end members iixedly integral with the said bottom sections, the end members of said border frame being spaced from the ends of said bottom sections, end walls mounted on said bottom member sections in bridging relation to the space between them, a central top member xedly mounted on said end walls, and side top members constituting dust pan discharge doors and having inwardly projecting end portions d isposed at the ends of central top member and pivotally mounted on said end walls and provided with downwardly projecting side and end walls seating on said border frame with portions of said border frame projecting outwardly therefrom, the side walls being inwardlyv olset and inwardly inclined providing nger holds, and springs acting to bias said side top members to closed position.

7. A carpet sweeper comprising a bottom casing member including bottom sections spaced to provide a brush opening extending transversely of the sweeper and constituting dust pan bottoms, a border frame comprising side and end members integral with said bottom sections', the end members of the border frame being spaced kfrom the ends of said bottom sections, end walls `on said bottoni sections, a central top casing member mounted on said end walls with its ends projecting beyond thev same and having depending end portions spaced outwardly from the end walls, a handle bail provided with journals disposed through said end` portions of said central top member and pivotally mounted on said end walls, and side' casing' top members provided with pivotally mounted inwardly projecting endortions disposed at the ends of said central top member and pivotally engaging said handle journals, said side members including side and end walls seating on said border frame when the side top members are in closed position with the inner side edges thereof in overlapping relation to the side edge portions of said central top member.

8. A carpet sweeper comprising a bottom casing member including bottom sections spaced to provide a brush opening extending transversely of the sweeper, and a border frame comprising side and end members, the end members being spaced from the ends of said bottom sections, end walls on said bottom sections, a central top casing member mounted on said end walls, and side `casing top members provided with pivotally mounted inwardly projecting end portions disposed at the ends of said central top member, said side members including side and end walls seating on said border frame when the side top members are in closed position.

9. A carpet sweeper comprising a bottom casing member including spaced bottom sections, and a border frame comprising side and end members, the end members of the border frame being spaced from the ends of said bottom sections, end walls on said bottom sections, a central top casing member mounted on said end walls with its ends projecting beyond the same and having depending end portions spaced outwardly from the end walls, side casing top members provided with inwardly projecting end portions disposed at the ends of said central top member and provided with pivot arms disposed between said side members including side and end walls seating on said border frame when the side top members are in closed position in which position theA inner side edges thereof are in lapping relation to the side edge portions of said central top member.

10. A carpet sweeper comprising a Abottom casing member including spaced bottom sections, and a border frame comprising side and end members, the end members of the border frame being spaced from the ends of said bottom sections, a central top casing member mounted on said end walls with its ends projecting beyond the same and having depending end portions spaced outwardly from the end walls, side casing top members provided with inwardly projecting end portions disposed at the ends of said central top member and provided with .pivot arms disposed between said end walls and said depending end portions of said central top casing member, said side members including side and end walls seating on said border frame when the side top members are in closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 655,896 Davis Aug. 14, 1900 2,380,634 Daniels July 31, 1945 2,651,796 Wagner et al. Sept. 15, 1953 2,793,378 Williams et al. May 28, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 123,175 Australia Jan. 16, 1947 549,088 Great Britain Nov. 5, 1942 1,096,318 France Jan. 26, 1955 

